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St Patrick's late start to curb drinking

THE St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin could be moved from its traditional noon start after the violence that followed this year’s event in the capital.

Garda believe the extended drinking opportunity created by the early start to the festivities was a major factor in the violent incidents that occurred in the city and other parts of the country. But police chiefs are refusing an offer of funding from Dublin businessmen towards the cost of garda overtime for more evening patrols.

More than 370 people were arrested around the country for public order offences last Wednesday, according to gardai. About 75 of these arrests took place in Dublin, six of them after a “mini-riot” outside a music store on Grafton Street early in the afternoon.

Maria Moynihan, chief executive of the Dublin St Patrick’s Day Festival, said: “Having the parade on at a later time has been something we have